1966 Map of Downer

About this map

Buffalo River State Park dominates the northern landscape of this Clay County survey, where the Buffalo River winds through a corridor of wooded terrain amidst the expansive prairie of the Red River Valley. The area's mid-century character is defined by its transit history, showing the Northern Pacific and Great Northern rail lines alongside an Old Railroad Grade that speaks to earlier alignments. Small settlements like Muskoda and Downer anchor the rail network, while the surrounding townships of Riverton, Hawley, Elkton, and Skree are marked by an intensive network of drainage infrastructure, including County Ditch No 57 and County Ditch No 12. Conservation and industrial activity coexist here, as the Magnusson State Wildlife Management Area provides habitat near Hay Creek, even as numerous gravel pits dot the glacial terrain.